Page 55 of Classroom Confessions

Cole held out his hand, taking mine in his strong grip. “We’ll tell them everything tonight at Ethan’s.”

Right. We were supposed to talk about options once we had a definitive date from the OB. The weight of the whole situation threatened to choke me, but I raised my head and marched into the office. An instant sense of peace flooded me when deep blue carpet cushioned my feet. Soft chairs lined the wall on either side of me. A woman in lavender scrubs looked up from the desk and smiled. “”Hello there. What can I do for you?”

I stumbled through a too-long explanation, finally ending with, “I have an appointment with Dr. Patricia.”

The woman’s smile never faltered. “Did you fill out the new patient paperwork we emailed you? No worries if you didn’t get to it. We can do it here.”

“I have it.” I pulled the stack from my bag and held it out. “Sorry.”

“Oh, honey, don’t you apologize. You’re growing a human. You get away with anything for the next nine months.” She speared Cole with a look. “Isn’t that right?”

“Right.” He rested a hand on my shoulder.

The woman watched, her gaze flicking between us as she tried to figure out our relationship. Cole wasn’t quite old enough to be my dad, but the obvious age difference caused the woman to narrow her eyes a bit. “It’s common protocol for you to go back alone for the first portion of the appointment.” Her smile returned. “Once the exam is finished, you’re welcome to invite one person back to stay with you.”

Interesting protocol. I thanked her and moved away from the desk, taking a seat and dragging my bag into my lap. Cole took the seat beside me, his smile strained at the edges. “She thinks I’m your pimp. Or worse.”

“Worse?”

He relaxed with his legs bent at the knees and his ankles crossed. “Probably wonders if I’ve kidnapped you. That’s why she wants you in there alone. Bet she asks a million questions about whether you feel safe.”

“That’s ridiculous.” I scoffed but my gaze betrayed me, drifting back to the receptionist. Did she really think something like that? She tapped away on the keyboard, but with a halfhearted effort. The majority of her attention stayed with me and Cole. Holy hell. She really did suspect something was off. My stomach tensed. Would we always face this kind of reaction?

I’d expected some sharp looks and snide remarks because of our age difference, but not this. Never anything like this. I started to stand, prepared to march over there and tell that woman exactly what I thought of her insinuations.

“Let them do their job.” Cole’s breath shivered across my cheek. “It’s good that they’re concerned.”

I gripped the arms of the chair. The door across from me opened and another lavender-clad nurse stepped out. “Rebecca?” Cole and I were the only people in the room, but she still looked around before grinning at me. “Would you follow me?”

I stood reluctantly, with one last look back at Cole. They probably mistook the gesture as my being afraid of him, but facing the unknown on the other side of that door without him by my side twisted me up all kinds of wrong ways. I made myself move and followed the woman whose name tag read Sophie until we reached a large room in the middle of a quiet hallway.

“You’re our first appointment after lunch, and Dr. Patricia likes to keep things chill in the afternoons,” Sophie explained while handing me a gown and housecoat. A for real gown and housecoat, none of that ridiculous paper stuff.

“I’m liking it here already.” I hugged the garments to my chest.

“I’ll leave you to change, but first I have a few questions.” She held a clipboard up and waved it back and forth. “Generalized questions, really.”

She rattled off a list of questions that didn’t sound generalized at all.

Did I feel safe at home?

Did I have a support system in place for me and the baby?

The list went on and on before circling back around to my safety.

I held up a hand, my annoyance bursting out. “Stop. I’m not in any trouble. I’m safe with the man who came with me. I appreciate your worry, but it’s misplaced.”

Sophie laughed, the sound popping like champagne bubbles. “Okay. We have to check. You wouldn’t believe what we see on a day to day basis.” She turned. “Dr. Patricia will be in soon. I’ll invite your friend to come back once she finishes the initial exam.”

“Thank you.” I was comfortable with Cole, but not comfortable enough that I wanted him in the room while the doctor checked my downstairs. Why they felt that was necessary, I’d never understand. Still. Who was I to try and buck protocol?

Thirty minutes later, after a thorough exam by Dr. Patricia—who came in with a warm smile and made me feel right at home—Cole joined us in the room and Dr. Patricia tapped a few buttons on a large machine.

“Who’s ready to see baby?” She held up a wand-looking device. “Now, I’m sorry to say we’ll have to do a vaginal ultrasound since you’re not far enough along for the other. But we’ll make this as comfortable as possible.” Her bright smile included Cole, who crossed to my side and took my hand between both of his.

“Will we learn the gender today?” He sounded breathless, animated. His eyes were glued to the black screen. Static flashed, and the discomfort from the wand pressed in. He dropped his gaze to mine. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” I gave him a smile for reassurance and angled my head to see the screen better. “Can you see anything yet?”

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